Rumor has it the guv will take over which post in Washington? New Mexico may become home to what kind of controversial facility? What are kids getting high on these days? And which New Mexico industry needs help?

Do proposed air quality regulations go far enough?

Local sci-fi novelist chats up a real-life space station commander

By Marisa Demarco

Walter Jon Williams found a unusual e-mail in his inbox in August. It was from NASA. Col. Mike Fincke would be lifting off in October, heading to the International Space Station for a four-month stint as its commander. The colonel’s a fan of Williams' work and is reading Implied Spaces—in space.

Journalist talks shop about reporting on Africa

By Marisa Demarco

For six years, Amy Costello covered conflict zones in Africa, genocide in Darfur, child labor in Ivory Coast, AIDS orphans in South Africa. She worked as a correspondent for the BBC's "The World," Public Radio International and WGBH Boston. Ask Costello for a memory, and the story she tells is a curveball.

Is the city looking to hire private contractors to handle some of its recycling? Councilor Michael Cadigan wants to know. He started the Monday, Nov. 17 meeting by questioning Chief Operating Officer Ed Adams about the administration's plans. Adams said the city’s sorting facility is at maximum capacity, and the option's on the table. Cadigan said it would be better for the city to make money off recycling without going through a middleman. Farming the work to private companies, said Councilor Rey Garduño, sounds like privatization to him. Cadigan said he hoped the Council would be included in such a decision before the city signed what would have to be a big contract.

Dateline: Russia—Officials from the Russian Orthodox Church told BBC News that a 200-year-old church was recently stolen. The Church of the Resurrection had stood near the village of Komarovo since 1809. It was still standing in July, but some time in early October, thieves made off with it brick by brick. The disappearance of the historic church was not immediately noticed since it was in an out-of-the-way area and was not being used at the time. Church officials said they had been considering resuming services there. Unfortunately, all that remains now are the foundations and some sections of wall. It is assumed the church was sold off for building materials.

[Re: Newscity, “Crossroads for Women,” Nov. 20-26] I was very glad to see Adam Fox's coverage of Crossroads for Women and the recently opened Crossroads Bazaar—great organization and wonderful resale shop! However, I just wanted to set things straight about the nonprofit occupying the little space at 102 Richmond NE just prior. We were Community Clotheshorse, not Community Clothes Stores (easy to see how one could sound like the other when spoken). We had the very specific mission of dressing low-income women who were entering the workforce; none of our clothing stock was for sale. I hope Fox's piece brings the Bazaar lots of shoppers—they've created a great place to shop.